Academic Policy for Participation in Intercollegiate Athletics at the University of Pennsylvania

To be certified academically eligible to participate (practice and/or compete) in intercollegiate athletics at the University of Pennsylvania, a student:

·Shall not have been awarded a baccalaureate degree, and

·Shall be in a specific baccalaureate degree program by beginning of the fifth term of full-time enrollment (at Penn or anywhere), and

·Shall be enrolled for a full-time course load of academic study for the current semester, and

·Shall have been awarded a minimum of 1.5 course units for each semester of full-time enrollment (beginning with the first semester of participation in intercollegiate athletics (anywhere)), and

·Shall satisfy requirements in the following areas:

1) NCAA Initial Eligibility (Freshman Only)

2) Completion of academic course work (course units awarded)

2) Grade-point-average

3) NCAA percentage of degree requirement

Note: The calculation of the percentage of degree, which is be based upon the information found in a student-athlete’s official academic worksheet has been automated effective with the 2005-06 academic year.A percentage cannot be calculated when a worksheet does not exist or is not official.It is the responsibility of the student-athlete to ensure that academic worksheet is official and current as to the student-athlete’s major and/or concentration and that all courses have been correctly slotted under the applicable requirement field.Student-athletes are to have academic worksheets made official by end of the fourth semester.

Transfer student-athletes and student-athletes participating in study abroad programs are not exempted from the percentage of degree requirement.

Provisional eligibility may be granted onetime only to a student-athlete who does not satisfy the prescribed norms for progress – being awarded an average of four (4) course units of academic credit per full-time semester or the good standing – a cumulative GPA of 2.00 provided all other applicable requirements are satisfied.Provisional eligibility, when granted, shall terminate at the conclusion of the academic year in which it is granted or at the start of the spring semester should the student-athlete’s academic performance for the fall semester not meet the NCAA term progress and/or GPA requirement.

In observance of NCAA legislation, certification of satisfaction of academic requirements is required prior to competition in each semester.Additionally, senior student-athletes or student-athletes who are exhausting their athletic eligibility must be recertified prior to participation in postseason competition occurring between semesters – fall to spring as well as spring to fall.

Incoming Freshmen(or students who are enrolling as full-time college students for first time):

All students who are in their first or second semester of full-time college enrollment (anywhere) must be registered in a full-time course load of study.Additionally, a student participating in a NCAA sponsored sport is required to be certified by the NCAA Initial Eligibility Clearinghouse as having satisfied the applicable academic requirements for participation in intercollegiate athletics during a student’s first-year of college matriculation.

This means if you are a freshman, to be academically eligible you must be:

Rising Sophomores(or students who have completed two full-time semesters (or equivalent) of college enrollment (including transfer student-athletes):

By the beginning of the third semester of enrollment (start of sophomore year for most student-athletes) a student must have achieved a minimum cumulative grade-point-average of 2.00, earned a minimum of one and one half (1.5) course units for the prior academic semester (not summer term) and the student’s transcript must display a minimum of eight (8) course units as having been awarded for the period commencing with the student’s first full-time semester and ending with the second full-time semester (including applicable summers).A minimum of four and one half (4.5) of the eight (8) course units awarded must be from academic course work completed in the first two full-time semesters (at Penn or elsewhere).Additional course units may be awarded from the first two full-time semesters and/or from any of the following: advanced placement credit, Penn’s Pre-Frosh Program credit, summer and/or transfer credit, all of which must be displayed on the student’s transcript at the time of eligibility evaluation.

This means if you are a sophomore, to be academically eligible you must:

oA minimum of 4.5 of the 8 course units must be for academic work completed in the first two full-time semesters (excluding summer), and

oA minimum of 1.5 course units must be for academic work completed in the previous full-time semester (excluding summer),

New transfer students (matriculating at Penn for first time), to be academically eligible you must:

·Be a full-time student, and

·Have been awarded 24 credit hours of course work (equivalent of 6 Penn course units) at your former school.

oA minimum of 18 of the 24 credit hours must be for academic work completed in the first two full-time semesters (excluding summer), and/or

oHave 3 course units of transfer credit that is Penn degree applicable per term of full-time enrollment from the two-year college previously attended.Transfer credits must be displayed on transcript at time of eligibility evaluation.

Provisional Eligibility –After two full-time semesters.

If by the beginning of the third full-time semester a student-athlete satisfies all of the above requirements except for the cumulative GPA of at least 2.00 and/or eight (8) awarded course units on the transcript, the student-athlete may be considered for provisional eligibility.

oA minimum of 4.5 of the 6 course units must be for academic work completed in the first two full-time semesters (excluding summer).

To be considered for provisional eligibility a student-athlete shall meet with the school eligibility officer to discuss the academic deficiency and to develop an Academic Enhancement Plan (AEP) which shall record the plan for academic improvement and agreed upon conditions of provisional eligibility between the student-athlete and the school.The student-athlete shall then review the AEP with the Assistant Director of Athletics for Academic Services who may add additional stipulations.Following these two meetings, the student-athlete shall acquire signatures (in sequence) endorsing the AEP from the sport’s head coach and DRIA compliance coordinator.

Rising Juniors(including transfer student-athletes):

By the beginning of the junior year (fifth and sixth semesters), a student must be in a degree program, have satisfied forty (40) percent of degree requirements, achieved a minimum cumulative grade-point-average of 2.00, earned a minimum of one and one half (1.5) course units for the prior full-time semester (not summer term) and the student’s transcript must display an average of four (4) course units as having been awarded for each full-time semester of Penn enrollment. (A rising junior (unless a transfer student-athlete) must have a minimum of sixteen (16) awarded course units on his or her transcript) with a minimum of six (6) awarded course units being for work completed in the two most recently completed full-time semesters (including summer sessions).A minimum of four and one half (4.5) of these six course units must be from academic course work completed in the prior two full-time semesters (not including summer) with the additional one and one half (1.5) course units coming from academic work completed in the prior two full-time semesters and/or summer (including course units awarded for transfer credit), all of which must be displayed on the student’s transcript at the time of the eligibility evaluation.

This means if you are a junior, to be academically eligible you must:

·Be a full-time student, and

·Be in a degree program (have an approved major, if applicable), and

·Have an official academic worksheet, and

·Have completed 40% of the requirements for your specific Penn degree, and

·Have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.00, and

·Have a minimum of 16 course units (on transcript at time of eligibility evaluation),

oA minimum of 6 course units awarded must be for academic work completed in the prior two full-time semesters and/or previous summer sessions).

oA minimum of 4.5 course units awarded, must be for academic work completed in the prior two full-time semesters (excluding summer sessions),

oA minimum of 1.5 course units must be for academic work completed in the previous full-time semester (excluding summer sessions),

New transfer students (matriculating at Penn for first time), to be academically eligible you must:

·Be a full-time student, and

·Be in a degree program (have an approved major, if applicable), and

·Have an official academic worksheet, and

·Have completed 40% of the requirements for your Penn degree

oThus, you will be required to have a sufficient number of awarded Penn and/or transfer credit on your transcript at the time of the eligibility review to satisfy the 40% percentage of degree requirement.

Provisional Eligibility –After four full-time semesters.

If by the beginning of the fifth full-time semester a student-athlete satisfies all of the above requirements except for the cumulative GPA of at least 2.00 and/or sixteen (16) awarded course units on transcript, the student-athlete may be considered for provisional eligibility.

To be considered for provisional eligibility a student-athlete shall meet with the school eligibility officer to discuss the academic deficiency and to develop an Academic Enhancement Plan (AEP) which shall record the plan for academic improvement and agreed upon conditions of provisional eligibility between the student-athlete and the school.The student-athlete shall then review the AEP with the Assistant Director of Athletics for Academic Services who may add additional stipulations.Following these two meetings, the student-athlete shall acquire signatures (in sequence) endorsing the AEP from the sport’s head coach and DRIA compliance coordinator.

Rising Seniors(including transfer student-athletes):

By the beginning of the senior year (seventh and eighth semesters), a student must be in a degree program, have satisfied sixty (60) percent of degree requirements, achieved a minimum cumulative grade-point-average of 2.00, earned a minimum of one and one half (1.5) course units for the prior Penn academic semester (not summer term) and the student’s transcript must display an average of four (4) course units as having been awarded for each full-time semester of Penn enrollment. A rising senior (unless a transfer student-athlete) must have a minimum of twenty-four (24) awarded course units on the transcript with a minimum of six (6) awarded course units being for work completed in the most recently completed two full-time semesters (including summer sessions).A minimum of four and one half (4.5) of these six course units must be from academic course work completed in the prior two full-time semesters (not including summer) with the additional one and one half (1.5) course units coming from academic work completed either in the prior two full-time semesters and/or summer (including course units awarded for transfer credit), all of which must be displayed on the student’s transcript at the time of the eligibility evaluation.

This means if you are a senior, to be academically eligible you must:

·Be a full-time student (unless you satisfy the criterion for a NCAA exception), and

·Be in a degree program (have an approved major, if applicable), and

·Have an official academic worksheet, and

·Have completed 60% of the requirements for your specific Penn degree, and

·Have a minimum GPA of 2.00, and

·Have a minimum of 24 course units (on transcript at time of eligibility evaluation),

oA minimum of 6 course units awarded must be for academic work completed in the prior two full-time semesters and/or previous summer), and

oA minimum of 4.5 course units awarded, must be for academic work completed in the prior two full-time semesters (excluding summer), and

oA minimum of 1.5 course units must be for academic work completed in the previous full-time semester (excluding summer)

New transfer students (matriculating at Penn for first time), to be academically eligible you must:

·Be a full-time student, and

·Be in a degree program (have an approved major, if applicable), and

·Have an official academic worksheet, and

·Have completed 60% of the requirements for your Penn degree

oThus, you will be required to have a sufficient number of awarded Penn and/or transfer course units on your transcript at the time of the eligibility review to satisfy the 60% percentage of degree requirement.

Provisional Eligibility –After six full-time semesters.

If by the beginning of the seventh full-time semester a student-athlete satisfies all of the above requirements except for having the twenty-four (24) course units awarded, the student-athlete may be considered for provisional eligibility provided a graduation audit has been completed.

To be considered for provisional eligibility a student-athlete shall meet with the school eligibility officer to discuss the academic deficiency and to develop an Academic Enhancement Plan (AEP) which shall record the plan for academic improvement and agreed upon conditions of provisional eligibility between the student-athlete and the school.The student-athlete shall then review the AEP with the Assistant Director of Athletics for Academic Services who may add additional stipulations.Following these two meetings, the student-athlete shall acquire signatures (in sequence) endorsing the AEP from the sport’s head coach and DRIA compliance coordinator.

Fifth Year Students(including transfer student-athletes):

By the beginning of fifth year (ninth and tenth semesters), a student must be in a degree program, have satisfied eighty (80) percent of degree requirements, achieved a minimum cumulative grade-point-average of 2.00, earned a minimum of one and one half (1.5) course units for the prior Penn academic semester (not summer term) and the student’s transcript must display an average of four (4) course units as having been awarded for each full-time semester of Penn enrollment. A rising senior (unless a transfer student-athlete) must have a minimum of thirty-two (32) awarded course units on transcript with a minimum of six (6) awarded course units being for work completed in the most recently completed two full-time semesters (including summer sessions).A minimum of four and one half (4.5) of these six course units must be from academic course work completed in the prior two full-time semesters (not including summer) with the additional one and one half (1.5) course units coming from academic work completed in the prior two full-time semesters and/or summer sessions (including course units awarded for transfer credit), all of which must be displayed on the student’s transcript at the time of the eligibility evaluation.

This means if you are a 5th year student, to be academically eligible you must:

·Be a full-time student (unless you satisfy the criterion for a NCAA exception), and

·Be in a degree program (have an approved major, if applicable), and

·Have an official academic worksheet, and

·Have completed 80% of the requirements for your specific Penn degree, and

·Have a GPA of a minimum of 2.00, and

·Have a minimum of 32 course units (on transcript at time of eligibility review),

oA minimum of 6 course units awarded must be for academic work completed in the prior two full-time semesters and/or previous summer), and

oA minimum of 4.5 course units awarded, must be for academic work completed in the prior two full-time semesters (excluding summer), and

oA minimum of 1.5 course units must be for academic work completed in the previous full-time semester (excluding summer),

New transfer students (matriculating at Penn for first time), to be academically eligible you must:

·Be a full-time student, and

·Be in a degree program (have an approved major, if applicable), and

·Have an official academic worksheet, and

·Have completed 80% of the requirements for your Penn degree

oThus, you will be required to have a sufficient number of awarded Penn and/or transfer course units on your transcript at the time of the eligibility review to satisfy the 80% percentage of degree requirement.

Provisional Eligibility –After eight full-time semesters.

If by the beginning of the ninth full-time semester a student-athlete satisfies all of the above requirements except for having thirty-two (32) course units awarded, the student-athlete may be considered for provisional eligibility provided a graduation audit has been completed.

Provisional eligibility, if approved shall be for one semester only but may be extended for a second semester upon recommendation from the school eligibility officer.

To be considered for provisional eligibility a student-athlete shall meet with the school eligibility officer to discuss the academic deficiency and to develop an Academic Enhancement Plan (AEP) which shall record the plan for academic improvement and agreed upon conditions of provisional eligibility between the student-athlete and the school.The student-athlete shall then review the AEP with the Assistant Director of Athletics for Academic Services who may add additional stipulations.Following these two meetings, the student-athlete shall acquire signatures (in sequence) endorsing the AEP from the sport’s head coach and DRIA compliance coordinator.